In this blog I present the results of my research into the landowning families of the British Isles and the country houses which they owned. Comments, especially in the form of corrections, additional information or new illustrations, are very welcome. Please use the Contact Form in the right hand side bar to contact me privately or the comments facility at the bottom of the page to make a public comment.

Friday, 27 March 2015

This post traces the intertwined stories of the Arbuthnotts of Findowrie House in the parish of Brechin (Angus) and their neighbours, the Carnegys of Balnamoon in the adjacent parish of Menmuir (Angus). The Arbuthnotts arrived first, when Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79) of Arbuthnott (Kincardineshire) bought the estate in the mid 16th century and settled it on his son, David Arbuthnot (d. 1602). It then descended in the male line to Alexander Arbuthnott (1685-1745), who had no son to inherit the estate. His daughter, Margaret Arbuthnott (c.1715-76), married James Carnegy (1712-91) of Balnamoon, so uniting the two estates.

Sir Alexander Carnegy (d. 1657) (or Carnegie - the spellings seem to be used interchangeably in the records, although Carnegy has been used consistently in this post) bought Balnamoon in the early 17th century, as one of a series of estate purchases between 1595 and 1642. Balnamoon at this time was a small tower house and very much a secondary seat to his much grander Careston Castle nearby. However, in the next generation the spendthrift habits of Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662) obliged him to sell Careston and Balnamoon was extended shortly afterwards by James Carnegy MP (d. 1700) to become the family's main seat. James's son, Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748) took an active part in the first Jacobite uprising in 1715 and the Balnamoon estate was sequestrated, but he was able to buy it back when it was sold off in 1728.

In about 1748 the estate descended to James Carnegy (1712-91), whose wife had inherited Findowrie in 1745, leading him to change his name to Carnegy-Arbuthnott. James, who became known as the "Rebel Laird", followed in his father's footsteps by joining the Jacobite army in 1745-46. He fought at Culloden but escaped from the battlefield and evaded capture for a year. When he was arrested and taken to London for trial he escaped punishment because there was confusion about his identity arising from his change of name. He was able to succeed to Balnamoon, and is the ancestor of the present owners, who are still called Carnegy-Arbuthnott, although the estate has passed through the female line no less than three times in the last 250 years.

Balnamoon House owes much of its present form to James Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871), who remodelled and greatly enlarged it in stages between 1812 and 1828, using William Burn as his architect for the last phase of works in 1825-28. Having made Balnamoon quite a grand house, he proceeded to demolish Findowrie completely and to use the materials to build a substantial but ungentrified farmhouse on the site, perhaps in the 1830s or 1840s. In the mid 20th century Balnamoon was let and fell into some disrepair, but it was restored in 1975-76 apart from a rear wing which was demolished.

Findowrie House, Brechin, Angus

Nothing is known of the appearance of Findowrie House, the ancient seat of the Arbuthnotts, which according to a guidebook published in 1856 was demolished "some years ago, and a neat farm-house built near its site, and of part of its materials". Demolition probably took place in the 1820s or 1830s, after the family had improved Balnamoon.

Descent: David Arbuthnot (d. 1602); to son, Robert Arbuthnot (d. by 1681); to son, Robert Arbuthnot (c.1618-93); to grandson, Alexander Arbuthnot (1685-1745); to daughter, Margaret (c.1715-76), wife of James Carnegy (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1712-91); to son, James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1740-1810); to nephew, James Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871), who demolished the house.

Balnamoon, Menmuir, Angus

Balnamoon from the south-west: the projecting block at the south-west corner represents the 16th century tower. Image: Steve Lord

The earliest part of the house is a 16th century tower which probably stood originally at the south-west corner of a walled enclosure and which was built for the Collaces of Balnamoon, perhaps in 1584 - a date which appears on a stone built into a later rear wing. A harled north wing was added to the tower in the 17th century, probably soon after the house became the main seat of the Carnegys in about 1660. The wing has a three-bay front with a large staircase window in the centre which is an 18th or early 19th century alteration. The house was remodelled and extended in stages between 1812 and 1828, the last part of the work being designed by William Burn in 1825. This made the 16th century tower one end of a new south range. A north-east wing, built at the same time, was demolished in the 1970s.

Balnamoon from the south-east, from an early 20th century postcard. The demolished north-east wing can be seen on the right.

The work of 1812-28 gave the house a new south front with a seven-bay centre and projecting ends, but the design is not symmetrical as the two bays representing the 16th century tower are balanced at the east end only by a single projecting bay. There is a semi-basement with small windows and the ground floor is treated as a piano nobile with architraves to the large windows. In the centre, and rather masking the asymmetry of the facade, is an enormous balustraded two-storey porch added in 1860, with a screen of Roman Doric columns framing the upper floor. The porch is offset from the front door to increase the external symmetry.

Balnamoon from the Ordnance Survey 6" map of 1863.

The early 19th century entrance hall which forms a half-octagon, with round-headed niches in the canted walls. This in turn leads into the staircase hall, where the stair has a cast-iron balustrade decorated with acanthus scrolls. From this hall passages run east and west from which the principal rooms are accessed. To the right of the hall is a dining room and beyond it a small library; these rooms have been stripped of their decorative plasterwork. West of the hall is the early 19th century drawing room, part of which is now used as a dining room. The drawing room proper is formed from the first floor hall of the 16th century tower, and has early 19th century decoration re-created when the house was restored in 1975-76.Descent: Sir Alexander Carnegy (d. 1657); to son, Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662); to son, James Carnegy (d. 1700); to son, James Carnegy (d. 1704); to brother, Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748); to son, James Carnegy (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1712-91); to son, James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1740-1810); to nephew, James Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871); to daughter, Anne Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1817-72); to sister, Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnot (1819-92); to sister, Mary Anne Jemima (1823-1906), wife of Arthur Risden Capel (later Capel-Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1822-99); to son, James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1864-1921); to daughter, Enid (1898-1986), wife of Wilmot Boys-Adams (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1891-1973); to son, Col. David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1925-2008); to son, James David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1953).

Arbuthnot(t) family of Findowrie

Arbuthnot, David (d. 1602), of Findowrie. Only child of Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79) of Arbuthnott and his third wife, Helen, daughter of George Clephane of Carslogie, born about 1555. He married 1st, Elizabeth (d. 1595), daughter of [forename unknown] Rait of Halgreen, and 2nd, [forename unknown], daughter of [forename unknown] Stuart of Inchbreck, and had issue:(1.1) Robert Arbuthnot (d. by 1681) (q.v.);(1.2) Margaret Arbuthnot;(1.3) Christian Arbuthnot;(1.4) Elizabeth Arbuthnot;(1.5) Isobel Arbuthnot; married Sir James Young of Easter Seton;(2.1) David Arbuthnot (fl. 1615);(2.2) A daughter.His father settled on him the estate of Findowrie which he had purchased in the mid 16th century.He died in 1602. His first wife died in 1595. His widow's date of death is unknown.Arbuthnot, Robert (d. by 1681), of Findowrie. Only son of David Arbuthnot (d. 1602) of Findowrie and his first wife, Elizabeth Rait of Halgreen. He married, 1616, Margaret, daughter of Sir William Grahame of Claverhouse and widow of George Symmer of Balzeordie (Angus), and had issue, probably among others:(1) Robert Arbuthnot (c.1618-93) (q.v.);(2) David Arbuthnot (b. 1626), baptised at Brechin, 5 December 1626;(3) Alexander Arbuthnot (b. 1629), baptised at Brechin, 8 October 1629; married and had issue one son(4) Margaret Arbuthnot (fl. 1642); married James Ogilvie of Balfour.He inherited the Findowrie estate from his father in 1602.His date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.Arbuthnot, Robert (c.1618-93), of Findowrie. Eldest son of Robert Arbuthnot (d. by 1681) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir William Grahame of Claverhouse and widow of George Symmer of Balzeordie, born about 1618. He married, 4 November 1641 at Bervie (Kincardineshire), Elizabeth, daughter of William Rait of Halgreen, and had issue:(1) Marjorie Arbuthnot (b. 1642), baptised at Brechin, 27 August 1642; married Francis Farquharson of Finzean;(2) Margaret Arbuthnot (b. 1643), baptised at Brechin, 24 September 1643 but died young;(3) Magdalen Arbuthnot (b. 1645), baptised at Brechin, 7 May 1645;(4) Robert Arbuthnot (b. 1646), baptised at Brechin, 25 September 1646 but died in infancy;(5) Robert Arbuthnot (b. 1648), baptised at Brechin, 8 April 1648;(6) David Arbuthnot (b. 1649), baptised at Brechin, 23 August 1649;(7) Elizabeth Arbuthnot (b. 1650), baptised at Brechin, 11 December 1650;(8) George Arbuthnot (b. 1652), baptised at Brechin, 23 June 1652;(9) Isobel Arbuthnot (b. 1654), baptised at Brechin, 21 March 1654;(10) Marie Arbuthnot (b. 1655), baptised at Brechin, 1 October 1655;(11) Margaret Arbuthnot (b. 1657), baptised at Brechin, 13 January 1657;(12) Alexander Arbuthnot (1658-88) (q.v.);(13) John Arbuthnot (b. 1660), baptised at Brechin, 20 October 1660.He inherited the Findowrie estate from his father.He died in 1693; his will is said to have been proved in 1745. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Arbuthnot, Alexander (1658-88), of Findowrie. Fifth son of Robert Arbuthnot (c.1618-93) of Findowrie and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Rait of Halgreen, baptised at Brechin, 12 April 1658. He married, 5 June 1679 at Kilspindie (Perths), Margaret (b. 1659), daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay bt., of Evelick, and had issue:(1) Robert Arbuthnot (b. 1680), baptised at Brechin, 3 November 1680; died in infancy;(2) Alexander Arbuthnot (1685-1745) (q.v.);(3) John Arbuthnot (b. 1687), baptised at Brechin, 14 July 1687.He died in the lifetime of his father in 1688. His widow's date of death is unknown.Arbuthnot, Alexander (1685-1745), of Findowrie. Elder surviving son of Alexander Arbuthnot (1658-88) of Findowrie and his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay bt. of Evelick, baptised at Brechin, 26 May 1685. He married, c.1713/14, Margaret Ochterlony (d. 1749?), and had issue including:(1) Margaret Arbuthnott (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1715-76) (q.v.);(2) Jean Arbuthnott (d. 1786); married, 1749 (contract 4 July), John Arbuthnott (1703-91), 6th Viscount of Arbuthnott and had issue three sons and two daughters, for whom see my post on the Viscounts of Arbuthnott; died 18 March 1786;(3) Mary Arbuthnott (fl. 1754); married, 20 December 1754 in Montrose, Capt. William Ochterlony;(4) Arthur Arbuthnott (b. c.1718); died young;(5) Anne Arbuthnott (fl. 1764); married, 7 January 1764 in Montrose, David Molison of Brechin.He inherited the Findowrie estate from his grandfather in 1693.He died 27 April 1745. His widow was perhaps the Margaret Arbuthnot buried in Edinburgh, 10 March 1749.Arbuthnott (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott), Margaret (c.1715-76) of Findowrie. Eldest surviving child of Alexander Arbuthnot (1685-1745) of Findowrie, and his wife Margaret Ochterlony, born about 1715. She married, 30 April 1734 (contract 26 April), James Carnegy (1712-91) of Balnamoon (q.v.) and they took the surname Carnegy-Arbuthnott when she inherited the Findowrie estate in 1745. For their issue see below.She inherited the Findowrie estate from her father in 1745.She died 25 April 1776. Her husband died in 1791.

Carnegy and Carnegy-Arbuthnott families of Balnamoon (Angus)

Carnegy, Sir Alexander (d. 1657). Fourth son of David Carnegy (d. 1598) of Panbride and Colluthie and his second wife, Euphame, daughter of Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss. He married Giles, daughter of Alexander Blair of Balthayock and had issue:(1) David Carnegy; died in the lifetime of his father;(2) Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662), kt. (q.v.).He acquired estates in Angus including the Careston and Balnamoon estates, between 1595 and 1642.He died in October 1657; his will was proved at Brechin, 10 December 1658. His wife's date of death is unknown.Carnegy, Sir John (d. 1662). Only surviving son of Sir Alexander Carnegy (d. 1657) and his wife Giles, daughter of Alexander Blair of Balthayock. He married 1st, 1642 (contract 23 November), Lady Helen, daughter of James Ogilvie, 1st Earl of Airlie, and 2nd, [forename unknown], daughter of George Graham of Claverhouse, and had issue:(1.1) John Carnegy (d. 1700) (q.v.);(2.1) Capt. Alexander Carnegy (d. 1691); a soldier in Lord George Douglas' regiment in France and later sheriff of Angus, 1684-87; married Lady Jean, daughter of James Erskine, Earl of Buchan and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 1691;(2.2) Elizabeth Carnegy; married John Guthrie of that ilk;(2.3) Cecil Carnegy; died unmarried [but some sources say she married John Guthrie];He inherited the Balnamoon and Careston estates from his father in 1657, but was obliged to sell Careston to Sir John Stewart of Grandtully.He died in September 1662. His widow's date of death is unknown.Carnegy, James (d. 1700). Only son of Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662) and his first wife, Helen or Elizabeth, daughter of James Ogilvie, 1st Earl of Airlie. Admitted a burgess of Dundee, 1668. MP for Angus in the Scottish Parliament, 1669-74, 1681-82, 1685-86. He married 1st, Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Carnegy of Pitarrow, and 2nd, Jean (d. 1705), daughter of David Fotheringham of Powrie and widow of John Carnegy of Boysack, and had issue:(1.1) James Carnegy (d. 1704); died unmarried and without issue, 5 April 1704;(2.1) Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748) (q.v.);(2.2) Elizabeth Carnegy (b. 1684), born 10 November 1684; married, 1702, John Graham (d. 1749) of Balgowan;(2.3) A daughter.He inherited the Balnamoon estate from his father in 1662He died 25 April 1700. His widow died in 1705.Carnegy, Alexander (1683-c.1748). Younger son of James Carnegy (d. 1700) and his second wife, Jean, daughter of David Fotheringham of Powrie and widow of John Carnegy of Boysack, born 24 October 1683. He participated in the 1715 Jacobite rising. He married, 1711 (contract 28 July), Margaret (fl. 1750), daughter of David Graham of Fintry and had issue:(1) James Carnegy (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1712-91) (q.v.);(2) Margaret Carnegy (b. 1714), born 6 July 1714; died unmarried after 1746;(3) John Carnegy (b. 1715), born 24 December 1715; died young;(4) David Carnegy (b. 1717), born 15 November 1717;(5) Thomas Carnegy (b. 1718), born 10 December 1718;(6) Alexander Carnegy (b. 1720), born 17 March 1720; died young;(7) Charles Carnegy (b. 1722), born 8 January 1722; living abroad in 1747;(8) Anne Carnegy (b. 1723), born 3 August 1723; married James Knox of Markhouse and had issue including Andrew Knox who married Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1758-1837) (q.v.);(9) Elizabeth Carnegy (b. 1725), born 12 November 1725; died unmarried after 1746;(10) John Carnegy (b. 1728), born 6 August 1728;(11) Robert Carnegy (b. 1730), born 24 November 1730; living in 1746(12) Alexander Carnegy (b. 1734), born 25 July 1734.He inherited the Balnamoon estate from his father in 1700, but the estate was sequestered after 1715 and repurchased in 1728.He died between 1746 and 1750. His wife died sometime after 10 October 1750.

James Carnegy-Arbuthnott

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James (1712-91). Only surviving son of Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748) and his wife Margaret, daughter of David Graham of Fintry, born 6 August 1712. He married 30 April 1734 (contract 26 April), Margaret Arbuthnott (c.1715-76) of Findowrie, and they took the surname Carnegy-Arbuthnott when she inherited the Findowrie estate in 1745. He was a Jacobite who participated in the 1745 rebellion as an officer in Lord Ogilvy's Angus regiment, but he escaped after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and and fled to Glen Esk where he was harboured by locals. While outlawed, Balnamoon was actively sought by soldiers of the crown, as well as hired Highlanders. At times of greatest danger, when his pursuers were in the Angus glens, he hid out in a remote cave high in Glen Mark now known as "Balnamoon's Cave". The loyalty of the locals, the remote location and the difficulty in locating the small cave entrance among the rock strewn mountain sides, kept Balnamoon from being discovered and captured for a year. When he was eventually betrayed by the local Presbyterian minister he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, but at his trial he escaped punishment because of confusion about his identity arising from his name change. He became known as "the Rebel Laird". He and his wife had issue:(1) Margaret Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1735; fl. 1774), born 26 February 1735; died unmarried;(2) Alexander Carnegy (b. & d. 1736)(3) Jean Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1738; fl. 1774), born 16 September 1738; died unmarried;(4) James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1740-1810) (q.v.);(5) Elizabeth Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1742; fl. 1774), born 24 June 1742; died unmarried;(6) Alexander Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1744), born 4 November 1744; qualified as a surgeon and emigrated to East Indies but died unmarried before 1810;(7) Anne Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1749-1828) of Findowrie, born 23 May 1749; died unmarried, 10 December 1828;(8) Charles Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1751), born 7 November 1751; emigrated to East Indies where he became a merchant, but died unmarried before 1810;(9) John Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1755), born 21 July 1755; died unmarried in Jamaica before 1810;(10) Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1758-1837) (q.v.).He inherited the Balnamoon estate from his father in 1750. His wife inherited the Findowrie estate in 1745.He died in 1791. His wife died 25 April 1776.Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James (1740-1810), of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Only surviving son of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1791) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Alexander Arbuthnot of Findowrie, born 26 June 1740. He worked as a merchant in Gothenburg (Sweden) with George Carnegie, whose family founded the Carnegie Bank, Carnegie Brewery and other businesses. He was unmarried and without issue.He inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates on the death of his father in 1791. At his death Findowrie passed to his elder sister and Balnamoon to his nephew.He died in 1810.Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Helen (1758-1837). Younger daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1791) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Alexander Arbuthnot of Findowrie, born 28 March 1758. She married her cousin, Andrew Knox of Keithock (which he bought in 1809 and sold in 1821), and had issue:(1) James Carnegy Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871) (q.v.);(2) Mary Knox (b. 1790), born April and baptised 26 June 1790; married, 22 June 1821, William Hunter, son of David? Hunter of Blackness and had issue two sons and two daughters; date of death unknown;(3) Helen Knox (1794-1873), baptised 30 November 1794; married, 24 October 1824, Capt. Campbell Lock RN, and had issue nine sons; died Jan-Mar 1873.She died 23 January 1837 and was buried at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh. Her husband's date of death is unknown.Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott), James Carnegy (c.1788-1871) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Only son of Andrew Knox of Keithock and Markhouse and his wife Helen, daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott of Findowrie and Balnamoon, born about 1788. He took the name of Carnegy-Arbuthnott on succeeding to the Balnamoon estate in 1810. He married, 10 August 1812, Mary Anne (c.1787-1854), daughter of David Hunter of Blackness (Angus) and had issue:(1) Elizabeth Gibson Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1813-31), born 21 August 1813; died unmarried, 16 May 1831;(2) James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1815-32), born 23 January 1815; died unmarried at Ventnor (Isle of Wight), 18 October 1832;(3) Andrew Knox Carnegy-Arbuthnott (c.1816-32); died unmarried, 9 June 1832 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus);(4) Anne Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1817-72); a formidable spinster, who once put a young and effervescent R.L. Stevenson in his place; she succeeded her father as owner of Findowrie and Balnamoon, 12 April 1871 but died unmarried, 16 November 1872;(5) Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1819-92), born 15 August 1819; succeeded her elder sister as owner of Findowrie and Balnamoon, 16 November 1872, but died unmarried, 1892;(6) David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1852); died unmarried at Port Natal, 18 March 1852;(7) Mary Anne Jemima Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1823-1906) (q.v.);(8) Thomas Hunter Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1858); emigrated to Australia, where he died unmarried, February 1858;(9) Matilda Elisabeth Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1830-83), baptised 28 July 1830; married, 26 April 1866, Rev. Frederick Pigott Johnson (1826-82), vicar of Oaksey (Wilts) and had issue one son; died 12 March 1883.He inherited the Balmanoon estate from his uncle in 1810 and Findowrie from his aunt in 1828. He was responsible for enlarging Balnamoon in 1812-28 and for demolishing Findowrie and replacing it with a farmhouse built from some of the materials.He died 12 April 1871. His wife died 12 November 1854.Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Mary Anne Jemima (1823-1906) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Third daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (né Knox) of Findowrie and Balnamoon and his wife Mary Anne, daughter of David Hunter of Blackness (Angus), born 31 October 1823. She married, 18 April 1852, Arthur Risden Capel (1822-99), who assumed the name Capel-Carnegy-Arbuthnott (although he continued to use Capel for many purposes), and they had issue:(1) Mary Anne Carnegy Arbuthnott Capel (1855-1916), baptised 11 December 1855; died unmarried, 5 June 1916; will proved 10 August 1916 (estate £19,264);(2) Margaret Carnegy Arbuthnott Capel (1857-1918), born 6 December 1857 and baptised 1 January 1858; married, 15 November 1894, Arthur Griffith Layard (b. 1855), planter in Ceylon, and had issue one son and two daughters; died 9 September 1918; will proved 9 November 1918 (estate £7,588);(3) Evelyn Frederica Capel (1860-1936), born 12 June and baptised 20 July 1860; married, 17 April 1894, Constantine Albert Ionides (1864-1916), and had issue one son and two daughters; died 29 March 1936; will proved 27 June 1936 (estate £28,472);(4) Arthur Carnegy Capel (1862-87), born 26 September 1862; educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford (BA 1884); died unmarried, 24 December 1887; administration of goods with will annexed granted 10 February 1888 (effects £2,844);(5) James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1864-1921) (q.v.);(6) Edith Alice Capel (1866-1942), born 25 January and baptised 8 March 1866; married, 12 April 1899, Malcolm William Galloway, stockbroker, eldest son of W. Galloway of Cheshunt (Herts) and had issue two children; died 5 March 1942; will proved 20 July 1942 (estate £474);(7) Harold Carnegy Capel (1868-1936), born 11 June and baptised 11 July 1868; stockbroker; married, 28 July 1895, Eileen Kilmorey (d. 1946), daughter of Thomas Kilmorey Murphy of Lismore (Kerry) and had issue one son; died 27 May 1936.She inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from her sister in 1892.She died 1 February 1906 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus); her will was proved at Forfar Sheriff Court, 25 April 1906. Her husband died 19 May 1899; his will was proved at Forfar Sheriff Court, 15 August 1899.Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James (1864-1921) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Eldest surviving son of Arthur Risden Capel-Carnegy-Arbuthnott (né Capel) and his wife Mary Anne Jemima, daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott, born 31 May 1864. He accumulated significant gambling debts and left the estate embarrassed at his death. He married, 5 April 1894, Ethel Lydia (c.1869-1948), eldest daughter of Arthur Gibson Hill, and had issue:(1) Helen Mary Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1895-1993), born 19 January 1895; married, 1 July 1916 at St Peter, Cranley Gardens, London, Maj. Dennis Reginald Clare Dillon O'Flynn (1880-1944), son of John Dillon O'Flynn, and had issue; died in 1993 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus);(2) Enid (alias Edith) Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1898-1986) (q.v.);(3) Elizabeth Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1906-85), born 4 February 1906; fenced in the Olympic Games; lived at Hampton Lodge, Hampton Court (Middx); died 24 January 1985 and was buried at Menmuir; her will was proved 30 April 1985 (estate £123,942).He inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from his mother in 1906.He died 11 September 1921 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus); his will was proved 3 March 1923. His widow married 2nd, Oct-Dec 1922, Richard Arthur Quirk (c.1884-1954) and died 8 July 1948; her will was proved 2 December 1948 (estate £21,257).Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Enid (alias Edith) (1898-1986) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Second daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1864-1921) of Findowrie and Balnamoon and his wife Ethel Lydia, daughter of Arthur Gibson Hill, born 21 May 1898. She married, 2 July 1919, Lt-Col. Wilmot Boys-Adams (1891-1973), who assumed the name of Carnegy-Arbuthnott in 1923, son of Charles Lemesle Adams of Pendeford Hall (Staffs) and his wife Margaret (née Boys), and had issue:(1) June Mary Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1920-2015), born 24 July 1920; married, 2 April 1941, Maj. Gerald Michael Osborne MC TD of Balmadies, Guthrie (Angus), son of Maj. John Edwards Osborne, and had issue three sons and two daughters; died 2 July 2015;(2) David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1925-2008) (q.v.).She inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from her father in 1921 but leased the house until after the Second World War when it was in poor condition.She died 10 November 1986 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus). Her husband died in 1973 and was also buried at Menmuir.Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Col. David (1925-2008) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Only son of Lt. Col. Wilmot Carnegy-Arbuthnott (né Boys-Adams) and his wife Enid (alias Edith), daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott of Findowrie and Balnamoon, born 17 July 1925. Educated at Stowe. Served in Black Watch 1944-47 and later with 4th/5th Battalion, Black Watch in Territorials (Lt. Col.); Hon. Col. of 51st Highland Volunteers; Member of Hon. Company of Archers, 1959. A chartered accountant (later managing partner) with R.C. Thompson & Murdoch (later Arthur Young McClelland Moores) in Dundee. A Trustee of the Scottish Episcopal Church, 1982. DL for Dundee 1973-89 and for Angus, 1989-2008. Hon. LLD (Dundee Univ, 1982). He married, 27 August 1949, Helen Adamson (1926-2000), daughter of David Collier Lyell MC of Kirriemuir (Angus), and had issue:(1) Sarah Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1951), born 25 June 1951; married, 5 May 1973, Hugh Yatman Gunn (b. 1949?) and had issue one son;(2) James David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1953) (q.v.);(3) Hugh John Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1957), born 26 February 1957; educated at Stowe and Pembroke College, Oxford (MA); employed by Reuters Ltd in Bahrain; married, 26 September 1981, Victoria Zoe Katherina (b. 1956), daughter of Gosta Carlstrand and had issue two sons and one daughter;(4) Bridget Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1960), born 21 November 1960; married, 25 August 1984, William James Birkbeck, son of James Birkbeck of Lima (Peru) and had issue three sons.He inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from his mother in 1986 but took over the management of the estate after his father's death in 1973 and was responsible for restoring the house in 1975-76.He died 20 March 2008. His wife died 3 April 2000 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus).Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James David (b. 1953) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Elder son of Lt-Col. David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1925) of Findowrie and Balnamoon and his wife Helen Adamson, daughter of David Collier Lyell MC of Kirriemuir (Angus), born 8 June 1953. Educated at Stowe and Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He married, 19 January 1985, Cerys Sian, antique dealer and fine art consultant, daughter of Dr. Geoffrey J. Williams, and had issue:(1) James Alexander Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1987), born 17 September 1987; educated at Harper Adams University College, Newport (Shropshire) (BSc Hons in Agriculture 2010);(2) Sian Cecily Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1990), born 10 June 1990; educated at St Andrews University (MA in History of Art 2012).Now living.

Sources

D.M. Peter, The Baronage of Angus and Mearns, 1856; W.. Fraser, History of the Carnegies, Earls of Southesk, and their kindred, vol. 2, 1867; J. Gifford, The buildings of Scotland: Dundee and Angus, 2012, pp. 348-50; http://www.kittybrewster.com/b.htm;

Saturday, 14 March 2015

The Arbuthnott estate was acquired before 1206 by Hugo de Swinton, whose descendants took their name from the estate, and the descent of the family can be traced from Hugo to the present owner, the 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Very little is known about the house the family had at Arbuthnott before the early 15th century except that it was defensive in character and stood on the same site overlooking the junction of two tributaries of the Bervie Water.The family were unusually peacable by the standards of medieval Scotland, with the notable exception of Hugh Arbuthnott (c.1380-1446), with whom the genealogical details given below begin. In 1420 he was implicated in the grisly murder of the local sheriff, John Melville of Glenbervie, who had made himself unpopular with the local gentry families, perhaps by a too-assiduous attention to his duties. A group of the sheriff's neighbours invited him to a hunting party in the Forest of Garvock. Once there he was knocked on the head, and his body thrown into a convenient cauldron. It is said that having simmered this grisly mess for a while each of the friends downed a spoonful of the resulting soup! After this barbaric episode, Hugh Arbuthnott not unnaturally feared reprisals from the Melvilles, and he first rapidly strengthened the defences at Arbuthnott and later began rebuilding the house, although the only part of his work that survives substantially intact today is the low hall block.Hugh's great-grandson, Sir Robert Arbuthnott (c.1450-1505/6), was a more estimable character. He was a confidant of Kings James III and IV, and noted for his religious piety - something evidenced by his many benefactions to the church. He resumed the work of improving the house at Arbuthnott, and was responsible for much of the castle that existed in the 16th and 17th centuries. His eldest son, James Arbuthnott (c.1477-1521) went on pilgrimage to Amiens at the end of his life and so presumably shared his father's religious enthusiasm. His son, Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79) devoted his attention more to expanding his estates, perhaps partly to make provision for his nineteen children, and in the next generation Robert Arbuthnott (c.1531-1606) continued the same policy, buying land in Angus. His eldest son, Sir Robert Arbuthnott (1554-1631), kt., was "a man of great talents and sincere piety" and a pillar of the reformed Church of Scotland. Although married, he had no children, and so his heir was his nephew, another Sir Robert Arbuthnott (c.1595-1633), kt., whose life of great promise was cut short when he died of the stone. His eldest son and heir, Sir Robert Arbuthnott (c.1618-55), was knighted and later made a Viscount by King Charles I in an effort to woo him into support of the Royalist cause in the Civil War, but to no avail: he had signed the first Covenant and remained true to his word. The Arbuthnott estates were accordingly pillaged by the Duke of Montrose's Royalist forces in 1645, although Arbuthnott House itself seems to have been spared. The 1st Viscount died young in 1655 and his successors also had short tenures. His grandson, Robert Arbuthnott (1661-94), 3rd Viscount, married a daughter of the Earl of Sutherland, who, coming from a much grander family, no doubt found the 15th century house at Arbuthnott very old-fashioned. A start was made on modernisation, remodelling the drawing rooms in the old house with plaster ceilings in the latest fashion, and perhaps more would have followed had the 3rd Viscount not died in 1694 leaving a young family. The 4th Viscount barely came of age before he died unmarried, and his brother John Arbuthnott (1692-1756), 5th Viscount was a Jacobite and deeply implicated in the 1715 uprising, although he escaped unpunished. In the 1740s the 5th Viscount's nephew and heir, John Arbuthnott (1703-91), later 6th Viscount, came to live at Arbuthnott as factor to the estate, and he may have been behind the decision to substantially remodel the house beginning in 1754. The 5th Viscount was then an old man, and although he had come into an inheritance in 1753 it is perhaps unlikely that he would have commenced a major rebuilding without the urging of his nephew. In the 1790s there were further changes to the house for the 7th Viscount (1754-1800), and his son, John Arbuthnott (1778-1860), 8th Viscount, spent a fortune improving the estate, rebuilding farms and cottages, and laying out the grounds of Arbuthnott House in the early 19th century. Unfortunately it was a fortune he did not have, and he gradually accumulated debts of nearly £150,000. The position was no doubt made more difficult after he suffered a fractured skull in a riding accident in 1829 and became of unsound mind. Matters came to a head in 1847 when he became insolvent, and 1848, when he was accused of forgery. The scandal of this was such that he was obliged to resign as Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire and as a representative Scottish peer, and he was only rescued from greater ignominy when relatives stepped in to pay his debts on condition that he went to live abroad and resigned the estate to his son and heir, John Arbuthnott (1806-91), 9th Viscount, who gave up a promising army career to come home and manage the estate. Three of the 9th Viscount's sons inherited the title and estate in turn, and when the last of them died in 1917 the family honours and property passed to a grandson of the 8th Viscount, Walter Charles Warner Arbuthnott (1847-1920), 13th Viscount, who found the estate sadly run down and considered selling up. Fortunately no decisive step had been taken before he died in 1920, and his heir, John Ogilvy Arbuthnott (1882-1960), 14th Viscount, who had long experience of ranching in Alberta, was able to rescue the estate. He also restored the family to its position in public life, becoming Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire from 1926 until his death. He was married but childless, and he was succeeded by a fairly distant kinsman, Major-General Robert Keith Arbuthnott (1897-1966), 15th Viscount, who was a great-grandson of the 8th Viscount. Maj-General Arbuthnott, who had a distinguished military career, also succeeded as Lord Lieutenant. When he died in 1966 he was succeeded by his son, Sir John Campbell Arbuthnott (1924-2012), 16th Viscount, who worked as a land agent before inheriting the estate and was an early conservationist. After coming into the title and estate he joined the board of a number of leading Scottish companies, and became chairman of Scottish Widows in 1984-87. He was Lord Lieutenant of Grampian region from 1977-99 and was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1996. Before his death he handed Arbuthnott over to his son, the present Viscount, who undertook a major and sensitive restoration of the house in 2010.

Arbuthnott House, Kincardineshire

The house started life c.1420
as a fortified building built by Hugh Arbuthnott (c.1380-1446) overlooking the junction of
two tributaries of the Bervie Water, and it may incorporate elements of its 13th century predecessor. In the 1470s and 1480s Robert Arbuthnott (c.1450-1505/6) re-roofed the hall block and added a block of similar dimensions (known as The Twin) to the west of it and two ranges on the north side. The west end of the courtyard he closed with a curtain wall with a square gatehouse (called the Fore Tower) in the middle. The Fore Tower was apparently not completed until the 1520s.

Plan of the development of Arbuthnott house, 15th-17th cents. Image: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

The south wing was remodelled and given an extra storey in the 1680s, and contains two sumptuous plaster
ceilings of c.1685 showing the influence of HolyroodPalace and Fyvie Castle.

Arbuthnott House: west front, showing the centrepiece of 1754-56 and the porch of the 1790s. Image: Arbuthnott estate

In the 1750s, the 5th Viscount took down the north-west range and the curtain wall and gatehouse and built
a new Georgian frontage to the designs of John Ferrier of Montrose. The contract was signed in
1754 and is interesting for showing how a regular Classical appearance was obtained at minimum cost. It provides for the building of a new three storey north wing to correspond externally to the end elevation of the existing (and then very old-fashioned) south wing, and between the two the construction of a three storey pedimented range to form a centrepiece. The 7th Viscount added the portico and great staircase, and the 8th Viscount considered building an additional range in the courtyard to the rear of the house, presumably to accommodate his enormous family more adequately.

James
Abercrombie provided a plan for improving the grounds in 1792, but little seems
to have been done, and the grounds were eventually improved in the early 19th century for the 8th Viscount; the bridge carrying the drive is dated 1821, and the estate buildings were designed by Richard and
Robert Dickson of Edinburgh
in 1839.

The house was restored in 2010 and is now open to the public for ten days a year and by appointment at other times. The gardens are open to the public daily in May and June. For the latest opening times see the estate website.Descent: Crown granted in early 12th century to Osbert Olifard; to son or nephew, Walter Olifard; who granted the estate to Hugo de Swinton (later Hugo de Aberbothenoth) (fl. 1177); to son, Duncan de Aberbuthenoth (fl. 1206); to son, Hugh de Aberbuthenot (fl. 1238); to son, Hugh de Aberbothenoth alias Hugo le Blond (fl. 1282); to son, Duncan de Aberbuthenoth (d. 1314); to son, Duncan de Arbuthnott; to son, Hugo de Arbuthnott; to son, Philip de Arbuthnott (fl. 1355-c.1400); to son, Hugh Arbuthnott (c.1380-1446); to son, Robert Arbuthnott (d. 1450); to son, David Arbuthnott (1423-70); to son, Robert Arbuthnott (c.1450-1505/6); to son, James Arbuthnott (c.1477-1521); to son, Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79); to son, Andrew Arbuthnott (c.1531-1606); to son, Sir Robert Arbuthnott (1554-1631), kt.; to nephew, Sir Robert Arbuthnott (c.1595-1633), kt.; to son, Sir Robert Arbuthnott (c.1618-55), kt. and 1st Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, Robert Arbuthnott (c.1640-82), 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, Robert Arbuthnott (1661-94), 3rd Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, Robert Arbuthnott (1686-1710), 4th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to brother, John Arbuthnott (1694-1756), 5th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to cousin, John Arbuthnott (1703-91), 6th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, John Arbuthnott (1754-1800), 7th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, Capt. John Arbuthnott (1778-1860), 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, Maj. John Arbuthnott (1806-91), 9th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, John Arbuthnott (1843-95), 10th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to brother, David Arbuthnott (1845-1914), 11th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to brother, William Arbuthnott (1847-1917), 12th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to second cousin, Lt-Col. Walter Charles Warner Arbuthnott (1847-1920), 13th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, John Ogilvy Arbuthnott (1882-1960), 14th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to kinsman, Maj-Gen. Robert Keith Arbuthnott (1897-1966), 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, Sir John Campbell Arbuthnott (1924-2012) KT, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott; to son, John Keith Oxley Arbuthnott (b. 1950), 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott.

Arbuthnott family, Viscounts of Arbuthnott

Arbuthnott, Hugh (c.1380-1446) of Arbuthnott. Only son of Philip de Arbuthnott (d. c.1400) and his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith, born about 1380. He was of full age by 1404. He was implicated in the murder of John Melville of Glenbervie, Sheriff of the Mearns, in 1420, but escaped punishment by claiming the privileges of the Macduff clan in such cases. He married Lady Margaret (or possibly Jean) (d. 1419), daughter of Sir Robert Keith of Dunottar, Marischal of Scotland, and had issue including:(1) Margaret Arbuthnott (d. 1486); married Andrew Menzies, provost of Aberdeen and had issue, from whom descend the Pitfoddels family; died19 March 1486;(2) Robert Arbuthnott (d. 1450) (q.v.).He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in about 1400 and built the earliest part of the house of which there are substantial remains.He died on or after 13 March 1446. His wife died 29 November 1419.Arbuthnott, Robert (d. 1450) of Arbuthnott. Only son of Hugh Arbuthnott (c.1380-1446) and his wife Lady Margaret (or possibly Jean), daughter of Sir Robert Keith of Dunottar, Marischal of Scotland. He married Giles (d. 1468), daughter of Sir Walter Ogilvy of Lintrathen, High Treasurer of Scotland, and had issue:(1) David Arbuthnott (1423-70) (q.v.);(2) Hugh Arbuthnott (d. by 1477); married Janet, daughter of George Balmakewan of that ilk, and had issue five sons; died before 28 September 1477;(3) Robert Arbuthnott (fl. 1503), of Banff on the Arbuthnott estate; married [forename unknown] Lychtoun and had no male issue; but he had issue two sons by another woman;(4) Alexander Arbuthnott (d. 1465); died unmarried, 12 October 1465;(5) James Arbuthnott (fl. 1470); married [forename unknown] Graham of Morphie and had issue;(6) William Arbuthnott (d. 1486); described as 'of wise memory' in the Arbuthnott Missal; married [forename unknown] Aberkyrdo of Dundee and had issue; died 18 March 1486;(7) Catherine Arbuthnott; married John Allardyce (c.1465-1523) of that ilk and had issue two sons*.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1446.He died in 1450. His widow died 4 May 1468.* Her husband's dates perhaps make it more likely that he married the Catherine in the next generation.Arbuthnott, David (1423-70) of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of Robert Arbuthnott (d. 1450) and his wife Giles, daughter of Sir Walter Ogilvy of Lintrathen, High Treasurer of Scotland, born 1423. He married Elizabeth Durham (d. 1488) of Grange near Monifeith and had issue:(1) Elizabeth Arbuthnott (fl. 1464-1506); married, by 1464, Patrick Barclay of Grantully and had issue a daughter; living in 1506;(2) Giles Arbuthnott; married 1st, [forename unknown] Cargill of Lessington; married 2nd, Alexander Fraser of Durris;(3) Robert Arbuthnott (c.1450-1505/6) (q.v.);(4) Hugh Arbuthnott; a physician who studied in France; married there and had issue who took different surnames;(5) Christian Arbuthnott (fl. 1487);(6) Catherine Arbuthnott (fl. 1487); said to have married, by 3 June 1487, Alexander Graham, son of David Graham, "Tutor of Morphie" but the Arbuthnott Missal says Alexander was Tutor of Morphie and that he married Christina, not Catherine.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1450.He died 8 October 1470. His widow died about 10 March 1488.Arbuthnott, Robert (c.1450-1505/6) of Arbuthnott. Elder son of David Arbuthnott (1423-70) of Arbuthnott and his wife Elizabeth Durham of Grange, probably born c.1450. He is said to have stood high in favour with King James III and King James IV and was an MP in the Scots Parliament, 1487, 1491. He was evidently a pious man and in 1487 he and his second wife were received in the order of the Friars Minor of Observance, although this does not seem to have meant that they retired from the world. They had earlier subscribed to a crusade against the Turks in 1482 (for which they received a plenary indulgence), become benefactors of the church of St Ternon, Arbuthnott, where they added the Arbuthnott Aisle subsequently used as a burying place by their descendants, and commissioned the Arbuthnot Missal, completed in 1491, in which (not surprisingly) Robert is described as 'a man of sound judgement, a wise man'. He married 1st, Margaret, daughter of James Wishart of Pitarrow and 2nd, 1475 (contract 10 September), Mariota or Marion (d. 1518), daughter of Sir James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, and had issue:(1.1) Ambrose Arbuthnott (fl. 1483; d. 1491); died young while at school in Brechin, 22 July 1491;(1.2) A daughter; married, before 25 September 1490, David Rait of Drumnager;(2.1) James Arbuthnott (c.1477-1521) (q.v.);(2.2) Robert Arbuthnott (d. 1551) of Banff; he had an illegitimate son (who was legitimated in 1553) and subsequently married, 1515 (contract 22 September), Marion (d. 1517), sister of Robert Lundie of Benholm and widow of Alexander Keith of Pittendrum; (2.3) George Arbuthnott (fl. 1509); died without issue in France before 1518;(2.4) Andrew Arbuthnott (c.1497-1570) of Pitcarles; acquired the estate of Little Fiddes; married Elizabeth Strachan (d. 1542) and had issue three sons and one daughter; one of his sons was the author of the first history of the Arbuthnot family; died August 1570 aged 73;(2.5) Elizabeth Arbuthnott (d. 1528); married 1st, Thomas Fotheringham of Powrie and 2nd, [forename unknown] Martin of Cardowne (Fife) and died 25 June 1528;(2.6) Catherine Arbuthnott (fl. 1499-1515); married 1st, before September 1499, David, son of Hugh Auchinleck of that ilk, and 2nd, 1515, Gilbert Turing of Foveran;(2.7) Christian Arbuthnott; married Alexander Fraser of Durris;(2.8) Giles Arbuthnott (d. 1546); married 1st, Henry Graham of Morphie; married 2nd, Alexander Strachan of Tibbertie; married 3rd, Thomas Fraser (d. by 1536) of Stonywood;(2.9) Janet Arbuthnott (fl. 1512); married 1st, before 9 December 1512, Alexander, son of George Falconer of Halkerton, and 2nd, George Auchinleck of Over Kinninmonth; (2.10) Mariota Arbuthnott (fl. 1509); married, after 6 November 1509, James Bisset of Easter Kinneff;(2.11) Isabel Arbuthnott (d. by 1535); died unmarried before 15 January 1535.He also had an illegitimate son,(X1) Rev. Dr. Patrick Arbuthnott (d. 1540); educated in France; rector of Menmuir and Newlands and Canon of Dunkeld Cathedral; a distinguished doctor of medicine; Physician in Ordinary to King James V; received letters of legitimation, 1531; died 3 September 1540.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1470 and completed the building of the castle begun by his great-grandfather in the 1420s. He obtained possession of the barony of Fiddes which had belonged to his family but had been alienated for two centuries, and made other additions to the estates.He died between 30 May 1505 and 11 January 1506. His widow died 8 January 1518.Arbuthnott, James (c.1477-1521) of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of Robert Arbuthnott (c.1450-1505/6) of Arbuthnott and his second wife Marion or Mariota, daughter of Sir James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, born c.1477. Described in the Arbuthnot Missal as 'an honourable man'; in 1520 he was licensed to travel to France on pilgrimage to Amiens. He married, 1507 (contract 31 August), Lady Jean Stewart (d. 1522), fourth daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl, and had issue:(1) Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79) (q.v.);(2) Patrick Arbuthnott (d. by 1542);(3) Rev. David Arbuthnott (d. 1547); rector of Menmuir and canon of Dunkeld in succession to his half-uncle; killed at the Battle of Pinkie, 1547;(4) Isabel Arbuthnott (d. 1558); married 1st, before 1531, David Ochterlony of Kellie and 2nd, 1545, Robert Maule of Panmure, "a man temperate of his mouthe, but given to lecherie"; died 1558.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1505/6.He died 8 March 1521 and was buried at Arbuthnott. His widow died 19 April 1522.Arbuthnott, Robert (c.1508-79) of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of James Arbuthnott (c.1477-1521) of Arbuthnott and his wife Lady Jean Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl, born c.1508. In 1568 he received a personal summons, addressed to "the Lard of Arbuthnot" to the Scots Parliament called by the Regent of Scotland on behalf of the infant King James VI, which might be held to indicate the creation of a peerage by summons, although no peerage seems to have been claimed at the time or subsequently. He married 1st, 1526 (contract 2 March), Katherine (d. 1529), daughter of John Erskine of Dun; 2nd, Christian (1512-53), daughter of Robert, Lord Keith; and 3rd, 1553, Helen, daughter of George Clephane of Carslogie, and had issue:(2.1) Andrew Arbuthnott (c.1531-1606) (q.v.);(2.2) John Arbuthnott (d. c.1607) of Mondynes (which his father bought from his father-in-law in 1550); married 1st, Katherine (d. 1570), daughter of Alexander Pitcairn of Mondynes, and had issue one son; married 2nd, Elizabeth Graham (d. 1613) of Morphie, and had issue two sons and one daughter;(2.3) Alexander Arbuthnott (c.1540-1614) of Pitcarles and Auchterforfar; married, Margaret Middleton (d. 1607), and had issue five sons; died 10 April 1614;(2.4) Rev. Robert Arbuthnott; educated at University (MA) and later in France; parson of Arbuthnott; lived with his brother at Pitcarles in Arbuthnott; was celibate and died unmarried and without issue before 1614;(2.5) Jean Arbuthnott; married, 1557 (contract 7 February), James Clephane (d. c.1560) of Hilcairney, younger son of George Clephane of Carslogie and brother of her father's third wife;(2.6) Agnes Arbuthnott (c.1534-87); married, about 1553, Alexander, son of George Straiton of that ilk, and had issue; died 15 November 1587;(2.7) Christian Arbuthnott (1535-c.1583); married 1st, c.1554, William Warrender and had issue one daughter; married 2nd, about November 1556, George Symmer (c.1534-83), son of George Symmer of Balzeordie and had further issue including a son; died before 30 April 1583;(2.8) Isobel Arbuthnott (d. c.1587); married Alexander Strachan of Brigtown; died before 4 March 1587;(2.9) A daughter; died young;(2.10) A daughter; married a Mr. Clephane;(3.1) David Arbuthnott (d. 1602) of Findowrie; married 1st, Elizabeth Rait (d. 1595) of Halgreen and had issue one son (ancestor of the Capel-Carnegy-Arbuthnotts of Balnamoon and Findowrie who will be the subject of the next post) and four daughters; married 2nd, [forename unknown] Stuart of Inchbreck and had further issue one son and one daughter; died 1602;(3.2) James Arbuthnott (d. 1608) of Garriotsmyre in Arbuthnott; tutor to his elder brother David's children, 1602; married Catherine Stewart; died September or November 1608;(3.3) George Arbuthnott (fl. 1580-98); probably died unmarried;(3.4) William Arbuthnott (fl. 1616) of Blackstoun (Angus); married Mariot Ogilvy and had issue one son;(3.5) Elizabeth Arbuthnott (fl. 1570); married, 1577 (contract 15 October), James Mortimer of Craigievar;(3.6) Katherine Arbuthnott (fl. 1579-1602); married, c.1579, James Ogilvy of Balfour and had issue; living in 1602;(3.7) A daughter; married [forename unknown] Lindsay of Barnyards;(3.8) Margaret Arbuthnott; married David Ogilvie of Persie.He also had an illegitimate son:(X1) Hugh Arbuthnott (fl. 1578), bequeathed 80 merks in his father's will; obtained letters of legitimation, 26 November 1580.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1521 and came into his inheritance in 1527 despite still being a minor. In the 1530s and 1540s he expanded the estates considerably, and in 1553 he handed them over to his eldest son, Andrew, retaining only a life-rent.He died at Stonehaven, 15 October 1579, and was buried at Arbuthnott. His first wife died 29 May or 15 June 1529; his second wife died before 12 July 1553 and was buried at Arbuthnott; his widow married 2nd, before 6 February 1580, Rt. Rev. Alexander Campbell, Bishop of Brechin.Arbuthnott, Andrew (c.1531-1606) of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79) and his second wife, Christian, daughter of Robert, Lord Keith, born about 1531. He married 1st, 1553 (contract 7 August), Elizabeth (d. 1563), daughter of Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird, and 2nd, c.1575, Margaret Hoppringil (fl. 1600) of Gallasmelds, and had issue:(1.1) Sir Robert Arbuthnott (1554-1631), kt. (q.v.);(1.2) Helen Arbuthnott (fl. 1565); married, 1577 (contract 2 August), Alexander, son of Thomas Fraser of Durris, and had issue;(1.3) Patrick Arbuthnott (d. c.1603) of Magdalene Chapel or Chapelton, Brechin (Angus) and Nether Pitforthies; married [forename unknown] Rait of Halgreen but died without issue before 5 May 1603;(1.4) George Arbuthnott (d. by 1582); died without surviving male issue before 21 June 1582;(1.5) James Arbuthnott (d. 1606) (q.v.).He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1579 and further expanded the estates, buying land in Angus.He died in 1606. His first wife died 23 October 1563. His second wife died after 26 June 1600.Arbuthnott, Sir Robert (1554-1631), kt. of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of Andrew Arbuthnott (c.1531-1606) and his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird, born 1554. Educated in France, he is said to have been a man of great talents and sincere piety, in favour with King James VI and I, who on one occasion encouraged him to attend a meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland "knowing that your presence there may do much good". Knighted in 1609. MP for Kincardineshire, 1621. He married, 1582 (contract 21 June), Mary (d. 1620), daughter of William, Lord Keith, but had no issue.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1606. At his death it passed to his nephew and namesake, Sir Robert Arbuthnott, kt. (d. 1633).He died September 1631. His wife died 11 March 1619/20; her will was proved 16 April 1621.Arbuthnott, James (d. 1606) of Arrat (Angus). Youngest son of Andrew Arbuthnott (c.1531-1606) and his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird. He married, 1590 (contract 24 November), Margaret, daughter of John Livingstone of Dunipace, and had issue:(1) Sir Robert Arbuthnott (c.1595-1633), kt. (q.v.);(2) James Arbuthnott (fl. 1653) of Cairnibeg, Dulladies and Ardbeikie; received a bequest of 20,000 merks from his father; on th death of his brother, he became tutor to his heir (later the 1st Viscount); married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Blair of Balthayock and had issue three sons and two daughters.He also had issue an illegitimate son:(X1) Robert Arbuthnott (fl. 1607).He drowned in 1606, while crossing the R. North Esk, which was then in flood.Arbuthnott, Sir Robert (c.1595-1633), kt, of Arbuthnott. Elder son of James Arbuthnott (d. 1606) of Arrat (Angus) and his wife Margaret, daughter of John Livingston of Dunipace, born about 1595. Educated on the continent for several years from 1611. Knighted, possibly in London, 1616. According to the Rev. Alexander Arbuthnott, "he put such a lustre upon his family by his splendid virtues and worthy actions that all about him courted his favour and friendship, and he became... as singly esteemed as most of his rank and quality, and certainly if God had not removed him to a better life by untimely death in the midst of his days, he had done great things for his family". He married 1st, 1615 (contract 23 December), Lady Margaret Keith (d. c.1616), daughter of George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal and 2nd, 1617 (contract 29 April), Margaret, daughter of Simon Fraser, 6th Lord Lovat, and had issue:(2.1) Robert Arbuthnott (c.1618-55), 1st Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(2.2) Jean Arbuthnott (b. 1619; fl. 1662), born 19 July 1619; married 1st, 25 October 1633, Alexander (d. 1648), son of Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys (d. 1648), 1st bt. and had issue; married 2nd, 1651, Patrick Gordon of Glenbucket and had further issue; married 3rd, after 1662, Sir William Douglas (d. 1687), 2nd bt., of Glenbervie;(2.3) Robert Arbuthnott (b. 1620), born 3 July 1620; perhaps died young;(2.4) Andrew Arbuthnott (b. 1621; fl. 1657) of Fiddes, born 16 September 1621; married, 22 February 1648, Helen, daughter of Alexander Lindsay of Canterland and widow of [forename unknown] Melville of Baldovie and had issue four sons and two daughters; purchased the Fiddes estate, 1651; living in 1657 but 'died in the flower of his age of that disease his father died [of] and in likelihood had propogated to him';(2.5) Margaret Arbuthnott (b. 1624; fl. 1640), born 30 August 1624; married, before 25 June 1640, Sir Alexander Carnegie of Pitarrow, son of David Carnegie, 1st Earl of Southesk, and had issue two sons and one daughter;(2.6) Janet Arbuthnott (1626-c.1685), born 31 January 1626; married, 29 October 1646, William Rait of Halgreen and had issue; died about 1685;(2.7) Alexander Arbuthnott (1628-50), born 4 July 1628; killed at Battle of Dunbar, 3 September 1650;(2.8) John Arbuthnott (b. 1630), born 9 November 1630; probably died young;(2.9) Simon Arbuthnott (b. 1632; fl. 1669) of Caterline, born 20 November and baptised at Arbuthnott, 25 November 1632; purchased the Caterline estate from his cousin, Robert Arbuthnott, in 1669; married 1660 (contract 28 August), Magdalen, daughter of Andrew Melville of Pitdovie and had issue at least three sons;He also had an illegitimate son:(X1) Robert Arbuthnott (fl. 1633), to whom his father left a legacy of 1000 merks.He inherited the lands of Arrat from his father in 1606 and the Arbuthnott estate from his uncle in 1631.He suffered from gout and kidney stones, and died of the latter, 15 March 1633. His widow married 2nd, 1634, Sir James Haldane of Gleneagles.Arbuthnott, Sir Robert (c.1618-55), kt. and 1st Viscount of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of Sir Robert Arbuthnott (c.1595-1633) and his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Simon Fraser, 6th Lord Lovat, born about 1618. He was knighted 'for his enduring loyalty' to King Charles I, who as part of an attempt to woo him into support of the Royalist cause, further created him Viscount of Arbuthnott and Lord of Bervie in the peerage of Scotland, 16 November 1641. In the same year he became a ruling elder of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Despite his peerage, during the Civil War he supported the Covenanters and his lands were laid waste by the Royalists in 1645. He was appointed to the Privy Council, 1649. He married 1st, before 1639, Lady Marjorie (d. 1651), daughter of David Carnegie, 1st Earl of Southesk and widow of William Haliburton of Pitcur; and 2nd, 30 June 1653, his cousin Catherine (1619-63), daughter of Hugh Fraser, 7th Lord Lovat and widow of Sir John Sinclair of Dunbeath, 1st bt., and had issue:(1.1) Robert Arbuthnott (c.1640-82), 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(1.2) Hon. Margaret Arbuthnott (1642-c.1665), baptised 3 May 1642; married, 2 June 1659, Sir John Forbes of Monymusk, 3rd bt. (who m2, 1673, Barbara Dalmahoy) and had issue one son;(2.1) Hon. Alexander Arbuthnott (1654-1705) of Knox; Scottish advocate and politician; MP for Kincardineshire, 1689-1702 in the Scots Parliament; married 1st, 1671, Margaret, daughter and heir of Col. Harry Barclay of Knox, who died without issue, and 2nd, before 1693, Jean, daughter of Patrick Scott of Rossie Castle, and had issue three sons and six daughters; died 1705;(2.2) Hon. Anna Arbuthnott (b. c.1655); married 1682 (contract 7 February), William (b. 1630), son of Robert Forbes of Ludquharn.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1633 and came of age in c.1639. He died 10 October 1655. His first wife died 22 December 1651. His widow married 3rd, c.1660, Andrew Fraser (d. 1674), 3rd Lord Fraser, and died 18 October 1663.Arbuthnott, Robert (c.1640-82), 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott. Only son of Robert Arbuthnott (c.1618-55), 1st Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his first wife, Lady Marjorie, daughter of David Carnegie, 1st Earl of Southesk and widow of William Haliburton of Pitcur, born about 1640. He married 1st, 1658 (contract 25 March), Lady Elizabeth Keith (d. 1664), daughter of William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal, and 2nd, 1667 (contract 30 July), Catherine (1644-92), daughter of Robert Gordon of Pitlurg and Straloch, and had issue:(1.1) Hon. Margaret Arbuthnott (c.1660-1744), married, 1677, Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys, 3rd bt. and had issue twenty-one children; died July 1744;(1.2) Robert Arbuthnott (1661-94), 3rd Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(1.3) A daughter, who died in infancy;(1.4) A daughter, who died in infancy;(2.1) Hon. Elizabeth Arbuthnott (b. 1669), born 10 November 1669; married, before 13 March 1686, Andrew Wood of Balbegno;(2.2) Hon. Agnes Anne Arbuthnott (c.1671-1742), baptised 9 January 1672 at Bervie; married, 25 November 1693 at Fordoun, John Hall of Westhall, advocate; died 1742;(2.3) Hon. John Arbuthnott of Fordoun (1673-1737) (q.v.);(2.4) Hon. Alexander Arbuthnott (later Maitland) (1674-1721), baptised 17 June 1674 at Arbuthnott; member of the Faculty of Advocates, 1697; provost of Bervie and MP for Inverbervie, 1702-04; appointed one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer in Scotland, 1707; married, 1707, Jean (d. 1746), daughter of Sir James Maitland of Pitrichie, and had issue one son and three daughters; assumed his wife's maiden name; died June 1721;(2.5) Hon. Catherine Arbuthnott (c.1675-c.1746); married 1st, 10 February 1687 at Arbuthnott, Robert Gordon of Cluny and had issue; married 2nd, David Riccart of Riccarton (Kincardines) and had further issue; died before 9 September 1746;(2.7) Hon. Helen Arbuthnott (1675-1741), baptised 26 December 1675 at Bervie; married 1st, at Arrochar, Col. John Macfarlane (c.1664-1705) of Arrochar and had issue four sons (including the eminent antiquary, Walter Macfarlane) and one daughter; married 2nd, 1710, John Spottiswoode of that ilk (d. 1728) and had further issue, two sons and two daughters; died December 1741;(2.8) Hon. Jean Arbuthnott (1678-1728), baptised 15 April 1678 at Arbuthnott; died unmarried and was buried at Arbuthnott, 8 June 1728;(2.9) Hon. Thomas Arbuthnott (1679-1745), baptised 23 October 1679; merchant in Edinburgh; married, 3 September 1712 at Fordoun, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Falconer of Phesdo and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 23 November 1745.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1655 and came of age in about 1661.He died 15 June 1682. His first wife died in February 1664. His widow married 2nd, 1684, Sir David Carnegie of Pitarrow (d. 1708), 1st bt and died in October 1692.Arbuthnott, Robert (1661-94), 3rd Viscount of Arbuthnott. Only son of Robert Arbuthnot (c.1640-82), 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his first wife, Lady Marjorie, daughter of David Carnegie, 1st Earl of Southesk, baptised 8 October 1661. Sheriff Principal of Kincardineshire, 1716. He married, 3 May 1683 at Stoke Newington (Middx), Lady Anne Sutherland Gordon (d. 1695), daughter of George Sutherland Gordon, 15th Earl of Sutherland, and had issue:(1) Hon. Jean Arbuthnott (b. 1684), born 29 June and baptised 6 July 1684; married Capt. Crawfurd of Camlurg and had issue;(2) Hon. Anne Arbuthnott (b. 1685; fl. 1717), born 9 and baptised 13 October 1685; married, 1717, Robert, son of Robert Burnett, tutor of Glenbervie;(3) Robert Arbuthnott (1686-1710), 4th Viscount of Arbuthnott, born 20 and baptised 24 November 1686; after coming of age he moved to London and travelled in the Low Countries and Germany; falling ill his doctors sent him to the spa at Bath, where he died unmarried and without issue, 8 May and was buried in Bath Abbey, 10 May 1710;(4) Hon. Isobel Arbuthnott (1688-92), baptised 5 April 1688; died young, May 1692;(5) Hon. George Arbuthnott (b. 1689), born 22 and baptised 24 February 1689; died young;(6) Hon. Mary Arbuthnott (b. 1690), born 12 and baptised 25 October 1690; probably died young or unmarried;(7) Hon. William Henry Arbuthnott (b. 1691), born 13 February 1691; died young;(8) John Arbuthnott (1692-1756), 5th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.).(9) Hon. Margaret Arbuthnott (1693-1747), baptised 22 April 1693; died unmarried, 31 January 1747;(10) Hon. Helen Arbuthnott (1694-1741), baptised 27 July 1694; died unmarried, December 1741.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1682 and was responsible for remodelling the drawing rooms with fine plaster ceilings.He died in August 1694. His widow appears to have disapproved of the trustees he appointed in his will for their children and succeeded in getting the will set aside. One of those named, Alexander Arbuthnott of Knox, later secured appointment as tutor to the family as their nearest relation, but his fitness for the office was questioned by the Earl of Sutherland. The dispute seems to have blown over when Lady Anne died in June 1695.Arbuthnott, John (1692-1756), 5th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Youngest son of Robert Arbuthnott (1661-94), 3rd Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Lady Anne Sutherland Gordon, daughter of 14th Earl of Sutherland, born 29 January and baptised 2 February 1692. He was a Jacobite and a non-juror and was actively involved in the 1715 uprising. He was suspected, perhaps reasonably, of being one of the Young Pretender's advisers too, but was apparently more circumspect about direct support for the '45. In 1747 he installed his nephew and heir as factor on the estate. He married, 1711 (contract 22 August), Jean (b. 1687), daughter of William Morrison of Preston Grange but had no issue.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his elder brother in 1710. He inherited the Caterline estate in 1753 and began a major remodelling of Arbuthnott House in 1754 but probably did not live to see it completed.He died 8 May 1756. His wife's date of death is unknown.Arbuthnott, Hon. John (1673-1737). Eldest son of Robert Arbuthnott (c.1640-82), 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his second wife, Catherine, daughter of Robert Gordon of Pitlurg and Straloch, baptised 5 March 1673 at Bervie. He married, 1695 (contract 30 May), Margaret (d. 1760?), daughter of Sir James Falconer of Phesdo and had issue:(1) Elizabeth Arbuthnott (d. 1775); died unmarried, 16 April 1775;(2) Margaret Arbuthnott (d. 1779); died unmarried, 25 December 1779;(3) Jean Arbuthnott (d. 1781); died unmarried, 19 July 1781;(4) Mary Arbuthnott (1706?-83); married, 17 June 1736 at Banchory, John Douglas (1708-91) of Tilwhilly, and had issue; died 25 May 1783;(5) Anne Arbuthnott (d. 1777); died unmarried, 15 February 1777 and was buried at Arbuthnott, 19 February 1777;(6) James Arbuthnott (d. 1727); banker in Edinburgh; died without issue, August 1727;(7) Catherine Arbuthnott (d. 1775); married James Moir (d. before 1767) of Invernettie but had no issue; died 28 January 1775;(8) John Arbuthnott (1703-91), 6th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(9) Dr. Thomas Arbuthnott (d. 1767) of Balglassie and Arbuthnottshaugh; surgeon in Montrose; married, 26 July 1738, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Forbes of Thornton and had issue three sons and three daughters; buried at Arbuthnott, 29 July 1767.He was buried at Arbuthnott, 10 January 1737. His widow is said to have died in 1760.Arbuthnott, John (1703-91), 6th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Elder surviving son of Hon. John Arbuthnott (1673-1737) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir James Falconer of Phesdo, born 1703. Educated as a lawyer; he acted as factor on his uncle's estate at Arbuthnott from 1747 before succeeding his uncle as 6th Viscount, 8 May 1756. According to the Scots Peerage, "in his later years he developed considerable eccentricity, which manifested itself in various ways, and in particular with regard to the management of his estates", but he may simply have been trying incentivise his tenants to undertake improvements on their land. He married 1st, 1740 (contract 16 April), Mary (b. c.1712), daughter of Robert Douglas of Bridgeford and 2nd, August 1749 (contract 4 July), Jean (c.1713-86), daughter of Alexander Arbuthnott of Findowrie, and had issue:(2.1) Hon. Charlotte Arbuthnott (b. 1749), born 21 November and baptised 22 November 1749; died unmarried;(2.2) Hon. Robert Arbuthnott (1750-85), Master of Arbuthnott, born 31 October and baptised 2 November 1750; died unmarried and without issue in the lifetime of his father, and was buried at Arbuthnott, 1 June 1785;(2.3) Hon. Margaret Arbuthnott (1752-1801), born 9 July and baptised 12 July 1752; married, 21 April 1769, Sir Alexander Dunbar (1742-91), 5th bt. of Northfield and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 8 June 1801;(2.4) John Arbuthnott (1754-1800), 7th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(2.5) Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott (1757-78), born 6 November and baptised 11 November 1757; died unmarried 2 October 1778 when he was drowned crossing the R. Southesk by a ford a little above Brechin, and was buried at Arbuthnott the following day.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his cousin in 1756.He died at Arbuthnott, 20 April 1791, aged 88. His second wife died 18 March 1786.Arbuthnott, John (1754-1800), 7th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Only surviving son of John Arbuthnott (1703-91), 6th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his second wife, Jean, daughter of Alexander Arbuthnott of Findowrie, born 21 October and baptised 25 October 1754. He succeeded his father as 7th Viscount, 20 April 1791, but as a result of the way his father had administered the family estates in his later years, he was obliged to enter into considerable litigation for the reduction of leases granted for long periods at inadequate rents. He married, 27 December 1775, Isabella (d. 1818), second daughter of William Barclay Graham of Morphie (Kincardines) and Balmakewan, and had issue:(1) John Arbuthnott (1778-1860), 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(2) General Hon. Sir Hugh Arbuthnott (1780-1868), KCB CB of Hatton; served in the Army, 1796-1862 (Maj-Gen., 1830; Lt-Gen., 1841; Gen. 1854), mainly with 52nd Light Infantry and Queens Own Cameron Highlanders; Commanding Officer, South Staffordshire Regiment, 1843-62; Colonel of Cameron Highlanders, 1862; MP for Kincardineshire, 1826-65; died unmarried, 11 June/July 1868; will proved 18 August 1868 (effects under £120,000);(3) Hon. Robert Arbuthnott (c.1782-1801); died unmarried, 10 March 1801;(4) Major Hon. Francis William Arbuthnott (1783?-1809), possibly baptised 7 November 1783; Major in the Kincardineshire Militia; died unmarried, 19 October 1809; will proved at Aberdeen, 31 August 1810;(5) Hon. Jane Arbuthnott (c.1785-1841); died unmarried, 1841;(6) Capt. Hon. Duncan Arbuthnott (d. 1811); Capt. in 95th Foot; unmarried; killed at Battle of Sabugal in Peninsula Campaign, 3 April 1811;(7) Hon. Catherine Arbuthnott (c.1788-1853); married, 19 April 1805 at Careston (Angus), Rev. David Lyell (c.1769-1854), son of Stewart Lyell of Kinneff and minister of Careston, and had issue four sons; died 16 December 1853;(8) Hon. General William Arbuthnott (1788-1876), born 5 June 1788; served in Royal Artillery; died unmarried, 14 December 1876;(9) Hon. Captain James Arbuthnott (1790-1817), born 3 November 1790; served in Royal Navy from an early age; commander of the Brig "Avon" which was sunk in an engagement with the American sloop "Wasp" in the English Channel, 1814; died unmarried at Madeira of his wounds, 30 June 1817;(10) Hon. Mariot Arbuthnott (b. c.1792; fl. 1828); served in King's Own (4th) Regiment of Foot (Ensign, 1818; Lt., 1820; retired 1828); died unmarried;(11) Hon. Alexander Arbuthnott (1794-1870), born about 1794; married, 16 December 1817, Jean or Jane Mather (1792-1866) and had issue one son and four daughters; emigrated to Canada c.1819 and died 1 August 1870 at East Gwillumbury Township, Ontario; buried in Selby Burial Ground, Sharon, Ontario;He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1791.He died at Edinburgh, 27 February 1800; his will was proved at Edinburgh Commissary Court, 26 February 1801. His widow died 4 March 1818.

8th Viscount of Arbuthnott

Arbuthnott, Capt. John (1778-1860), 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of John Arbuthnott (1754-1800), 7th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Isabella, daughter of William Barclay Graham of Morphie (Kincardines), born 16 January 1778. Cornet in 7th Dragoon Guards and later Captain in 52nd Foot. Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire, 1805-47; a representative peer for Scotland in the UK Parliament, 1818-20, 1821-47; Rector of King's College, Aberdeen, 1827-37. He embarked on a major campaign of improvement works on the estate, laying out the grounds, replacing the estate buildings and rebuilding farmhouses and cottages, but ran up large debts in doing so. In 1829 he fell from a horse, suffered a badly fractured skull and became of unsound mind as a result. By 1847 he was insolvent with debts of £149,000, and in 1848, he was accused of forgery, but his relations made good his debts on condition that he left Scotland. Two years later he handed over all his responsibilities to his heir. He married, 25 June 1805 at Cortachy (Angus), Margaret (d. 1870), daughter of Walter Ogilvy of Clova (who, but for an attainder, would have been Earl of Airlie), and had issue:(1) John Arbuthnott (1806-91), 9th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(2) Hon. Jean Ogilvy Arbuthnott (1807-1900), born 9 August 1807; married, 29 June 1830, Capt. James Cheape RN (c.1796-1841), son of Alexander Cheape of Strathtyrum but had no issue; died at Carron Lodge near St. Andrews (Fife), 22 October 1900; will proved at Cupar Sheriff Court, 12 December 1900;(3) Hon. Walter Arbuthnott (1808-91) of Hatton (q.v.);(4) Hon. Margaret Arbuthnott (1810-45), born 6 January 1810; married, 5 August 1837 at Balmeadie, William James Lumsden (1794-1875) of Balmeadie (who m2, 1846, Mary Elizabeth Thompson (1821-63)) but had no issue; died 4 March 1845;(5) Hon. Isabella Mary Arbuthnott (1811-28), born 5 July 1811; died unmarried, 13 July 1828;(6) Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott (1812-66) (q.v.);(7) Hon. Anne Charlotte Arbuthnott (1813-1914), born 17 November 1813; married, 22 July 1847, Alexander Cheape (1803-92) of Strathtyrum, son of Commander James Cheape RN and had issue; died at Carron Lodge, St. Andrews (Fife), 14 May 1914 aged 100 and was buried at Strathtyrum, 18 May 1914; will proved at Cupar Sheriff Court, 17 July 1914;(8) Hon. Helen Arbuthnott (1815-40), born 10 April 1815; married, 26 April 1839, Frederick Lewis Scrymgeour-Wedderburn (1808-74) of Wedderburn (Angus) and Birkhill (Fife), de jure 8th Earl of Dundee and 10th Viscount Dudhope, and had issue one son; died at Balgarvie, 23 April 1840;(9) Hon. Charlotte Louisa Arbuthnott (1817-31), born 19 April 1817; died young, 21 September 1831;(10) Hon. Clementina Mary (or Maria) Arbuthnott (1818-57), born 17 August 1818; married, 2 November 1854 at Arbuthnott House, Col. William Rose Campbell (1819-72) of Ballochyle (Argylls) and had issue one daughter who died in infancy; died 23 October 1857;(11) Hon. David Arbuthnott (1820-1901), born 13 April 1820; tax collector, magistrate and political agent in Madras Civil Service; had three acknowledged illegitimate sons by different Indian women; married, 8 September 1847 at Bellary (East Indies), Eliza (1824-1913), daughter of Thomas Reynolds and had issue four sons and three daughters; died 27 July 1901; will proved 30 August 1901 (effects £3,031);(12) Lt-Col. Hon. William Arbuthnott (1821-1902), born 18 October 1821; served in East India Co. army, 1841-50 (invalided 1847); and later in Forfar and Kincardineshire Militia Artillery (Capt., 1855; Lt. Col.); DL for Kincardineshire; had an illegitimate daughter by a Scottish farmworker, Jane Burness; married, 6 December 1865, Barbara Elrington (1822-1904), daughter of Lt-Gen. Sir Neil Douglas and widow of William Allen of Inchmartine and Capt. Neil Ferguson Blair of Balthayock, but she abandoned him on their honeymoon in Norway where she lived the rest of her life with a Norwegian partner and inspired much affection and folk-lore by her eccentricities; died 13 December 1902 and was buried at Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh; will proved at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, 9 July 1903;(13) Major Hon. Charles James Donald Arbuthnott (1823-1903), born 21 March and baptised 20 April 1823; Major in Bengal Light Infantry; married 1st, 7 December 1852 at Fort William, Bengal (India), Carter Caroline (1814-90), daughter of John Stratford and widow of Ebenezer Wilson Paul; and 2nd, Jan-Mar 1891, Annie Maria Wild (1861-1937); died 26 January 1903; will proved 7 February 1903 (estate £147).He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1800, but handed it over to his son in 1850.He died in Berlin, 10 January 1860 and was perhaps buried in Bruges (Belgium). His widow died 12 December 1870 at Arbuthnott House.Arbuthnott, Maj. John (1806-91), 9th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of John Arbuthnott, 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Walter Ogilvy of Clova, born 4 June 1806. Educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford (matriculated 1824); served in the Madras Light Cavalry, 1825-50 (Lt., 1826; Capt., 1830; retired as Major, 1850). DL for Kincardineshire. He married, 5 June 1837 at Cortachy Castle (Angus), his cousin Lady Jean Graham Drummond (1818-1902), daughter of David Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Airlie and had issue:(1) Hon. Clementina Arbuthnott (1838-1923), born 29 March 1838; married, 21 June 1864 at Arbuthnott House, Alexander Stuart (d. 1901) of Inchbreck (Kincardines) and Laithers (Aberdeens) and had issue; died 30 May 1923; her will was proved 14 August 1923 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court;(2) John Arbuthnott (1843-95), 10th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(3) David Arbuthnott (1845-1914), 11th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(4) Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott (1847-1906), born 10 September 1847; Lt. in 81st Foot; died unmarried after being an invalid for many years, 17 July 1906; will proved at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, 15 August 1906;(5) William Arbuthnott (1849-1917), 12th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(6) Hon. Margaret Arbuthnott (1854-1925), born 15 January and baptised 24 March 1854; died 21 December 1924; will proved at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, 11 March 1925.He took over the management of the Arbuthnott estate in 1850 and inherited it in 1860. He inherited an estate of 476 acres at Tintinhull (Somerset) from his uncle, Gen. William Arbuthnott, in 1876.He died 26 May 1891; his will was proved at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, 25 November 1891 (effects £18,448). His widow died 4 March 1902.Arbuthnott, John (1843-95), 10th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of Maj. John Arbuthnott, 9th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Lady Jean Graham Drummond, daughter of David Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Airlie, born 20 July 1843. Lt. in 49th Foot. He married, 20 April 1871 at Inchmartin House (Perths), Anna Harriet (d. 1892), daughter of Edmund Allen of Inchmartin but had no issue.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1891.He died 30 November 1895; his will was proved at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, 10 March 1896 (effects £49,308). His wife died 23 April 1892.Arbuthnott, David (1845-1914), 11th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Second son of Maj. John Arbuthnott, 9th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Lady Jean Graham Drummond, daughter of David Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Airlie, born 29 January 1845. Mentally retarded from childhood. He was unmarried and without issue.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his elder brother in 1895. His trustees sold the Tintinhull property acquired by his father in 1913.He died at Montrose, 24 May 1914.Arbuthnott, William (1849-1917), 12th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Youngest son of Maj. John Arbuthnott, 9th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Lady Jean Graham Drummond, daughter of David Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Airlie, born 24 October 1849. He was unmarried and without issue.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his elder brother in 1914.He died 8 November 1917 and was buried at Arbuthnott, 12 November 1917; his will was proved 12 July 1918.Arbuthnott, Hon. Walter (1808-91) of Hatton. Second son of John Arbuthnott, 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Walter Ogilvy of Clova, born21 November 1808. Captain in 52nd Light Infantry; DL for Kincardineshire. He married, 16 May 1835 in Tallaght (Dublin), Anna Maria (1809-91), youngest daughter of George Brook Taylor Ottley of Delaford (Dublin) and had issue:(1) John Robert (k/a Bobby) Arbuthnott (1838-72), born 28 August 1838; served in Indian Civil Service; died unmarried at Blarney (Cork), 24 March 1872;(2) Margaret Isabella Maria Arbuthnott (d. 1845); died young at Willowbrook (Kildare), 4 January 1845;(3) Blanche Arbuthnott (d. 1851); died young, July 1851;(4) Theresa Alice Jean Arbuthnott (c.1840-1851); died young, October 1851;(5) Walter Charles Warner Arbuthnott (1847-1920), 13th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(6) Kathleen Georgiana Arbuthnott (1849-1923), born August 1849; married, 7 August 1877 at Edinburgh, Lt-Col. Arthur John Rait CB (d. 1902) of Anniston (Angus); died 22 September 1923.He died 5 January 1891; his will was proved at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, 5 November 1902. His widow died 17 March 1891.Arbuthnott, Lt-Col. Walter Charles Warner (1847-1920), 13th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Only surviving son of Hon. Walter Arbuthnott (1808-91) and his wife Anna Maria, youngest daughter of George Brook Taylor Ottley of Delaford (Dublin), born in Ireland, 22 October 1847. Served in Royal Artillery from 1869, retiring as Lt-Col.; adjutant in Forfar & Kincardine Artillery Militia, 1881; succeeded his cousin as 13th Viscount, 8 November 1917. He married, 15 January 1878 at Pennycross (Devon), Emma Marion Hall (1854-1930), daughter of Rev. John Hall Parlby of Manadon (Devon), and had issue:(1) Hon. Walter St. John Mayne Arbuthnott (b. & d. 1880), born at Kurrachee (India), 30 September 1880; died in infancy at Bombay, November 1880;(2) Hon. Georgiana Muriel (k/a Moolie) Arbuthnott (1881-1973), born at Montrose, 31 January 1881; awarded Médaille de la Reconnaissance Française; married, 17 October 1923, David Crawfurd Fullerton Lindsay Carnegie (d. 1935) of Kimblethmont; died 22 December 1973;(3) John Ogilvy Arbuthnott (1882-1960), 14th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(4) Hon. Violet Anna Arbuthnott (1883-84), born 8 September 1883; died in infancy, 1 January 1884;(5) Capt. Hon. Hugh Robin Claud Arbuthnott (1884-1930), born 14 September 1884; Captain in 5th Battn, Black Watch; married, 4 September 1915, his nurse, Katherine Alice (d. 1962), daughter of William Tindall Lucas of The Hall, Welwyn (Herts); died 15 January 1930;(6) Hon. Norah Gertrude (k/a Nancy) Arbuthnott (1885-1988) of Anniston House (Angus) and Cairnhill, Forfar (Angus), born 30 September 1885; died unmarried, 6 January 1988, aged 102.He inherited the Arbuthnott House estate from his cousin in 1917.He died 9 August 1920. His widow died 27 January 1930.

14th Viscount of Arbuthnott

Arbuthnott, John Ogilvy (1882-1960), 14th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Elder surviving son of Lt-Col. Walter Charles Warner Arbuthnott (1847-1920), 13th Viscount Arbuthnott, and his wife Emma Marion Hall, daughter of Rev. John Hall Parlby of Manadon (Devon), born 15 September 1882. As a young man he emigrated to Canada and ranched in Alberta, returning to Britain in 1920; he served in WW1 in Calgary Light Horse in Canadian Army and as a Lt. in Welsh Guards; Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire, 1926-60; Convenor of Kincardineshire County Council, 1933; a representative peer for Scotland, 1945-55. He married, 6 June 1914, Dorothy CBE (1890-1990), youngest daughter of Adm. Charles Lister Oxley of The Hall, Ripon (Yorks), but had no issue.He inherited the Arbuthnott House estate from his father in 1920.He died 17 October 1960. His widow died 27 July 1990, aged 100.Arbuthnott, Lt-Col. Hon. Hugh (1812-66). Third son of John Arbuthnott, 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Walter Ogilvy of Clova, born 13 August 1812. Lt-Col. in 3rd Madras Light Cavalry. He married, 2 January 1854 in India, Susannah Morrison (c.1826-1920), daughter of John Campbell of Greenock, and had issue:(1) John Campbell Arbuthnott (1858-1923) (q.v.);(2) Hugh Corsar Arbuthnott (1860-1915), born 5 October 1860 at Madras (India); educated at Fettes College; served in Madras Light Infantry; married, 27 December 1886 at Jamalpore, Bengal (India), Marion (c.1860-1943), daughter of Archibald Gibson, secretary of the Caledonian Railway Co., and had issue four sons and two daughters; died 6 February 1915.He also had three illegitimate children by unidentified Asian women:(X1) Jane Arbuthnott (b. 1848); married, 17 September 1862 at Bangalore (India), John William Matthew Aitkins (b. 1834) and had issue one son;(X2) William Arbuthnott (b. 1858), baptised 13 June 1858; brought up in England but emigrated to India; married Adelaide Barnes and had issue one son and one daughter; died before 1929;(X3) Thomas Arbuthnott (1858-92), baptised 13 June 1858; died unmarried, 18 June 1892.He died at Milton House, Buxton (Derbys), 5 February 1866; his will was proved 28 February 1866 (effects under £800). His widow died 12 June 1920; her will was proved 26 October 1920 (estate £3,781).Arbuthnott, John Campbell (1858-1923) of Coghurst Hall, Hastings (Sussex). Elder son of Lt-Col. Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott (1812-66) and his wife Susannah Morrison, daughter of John Campbell of Greenock (Renfrews), born at Greenock, 6 April 1858. Educated at Fettes College. Served in Indian Civil Service, 1879-1914 (District Commissioner, 1905; CIE 1908); member of Legislative Council for Eastern Bengal and Assam. He married, 21 July 1887 at Barnes (Surrey), Jeanne Sinclair (1865-1947), daughter of Robert Hamilton of Elmhurst (Kent) and had issue:(1) Jeannie (k/a Henny) Arbuthnott (1888-1970), born at North Lakhimpur, Assam (India), 15 December 1888; married, 21 November 1911 at Shillong, Assam, Rev. Sir Nicholas Dodd Beatson-Bell (c.1868-1936), rector of Cornish Hall End (Essex) and had issue two daughters; died 28 February 1970;(2) Margaret Ogilvie (k/a Bunda) Arbuthnott (1892-1983), born in India, 9 August 1892; married, 7 January 1915, Lt-Col. Hastings Roy Harington (1888-1942) and had issue two sons and one daughter; died in Harare (Zimbabwe), 26 May 1983 aged 90;(3) Hugh Hamilton Arbuthnott (1894-1915), born at Shillong, Assam (India), 24 February 1894; educated at Haileybury School and Sandhurst; served in WW1 with 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers and as 2nd Lt. in 7th Punjabis, Indian Army; died unmarried, 28 December 1915, of wounds received the previous day at Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia;(4) Robert Keith Arbuthnott (1897-1966), 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(5) Susannah Mary (k/a Puggy) Arbuthnott (1901-83), born in India, 14 May 1901; married, 6 August 1925, Lt-Col. Adrian Kelso Hamilton DSO MC (1897-1960) and had issue one son and one daughter; died at Perth, 29 May 1983.He died 20 May 1923; his will was proved 27 September 1923 (estate £4,240). His widow died 3 April 1947; her will was proved 4 June 1948 (estate £1,600).

15th Viscount of Arbuthnott

Arbuthnott, Maj-Gen. Robert Keith CB, CBE, DSO, MC (1897-1966), 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Eldest surviving son of John Campbell Arbuthnott (1858-1923) and his wife Jeanne Sinclair, daughter of Robert Hamilton of Elmhurst (Kent), born in India, 21 August 1897. Educated at Fettes College and Sandhurst. Served in Black Watch, 1915-52 (Lt., 1917; Capt., 1924; Maj., 1938; Lt-Col. 1944; Col., 1945; Maj-Gen., 1946, retired 1952); served in WW1 (mentioned in despatches; wounded; awarded MC), Palestine, 1938-39 (awarded DSO), and Italy, 1943-45 (awarded CBE and CB); Chief of British Military Mission to Egypt, 1946; Chief of Staff, Scottish Command, 1948-49, Commander, 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (TA) and Highland District, 1949-52; Colonel of the Black Watch, 1960-66; Commander of US Legion of Merit.He inherited the Viscountcy from his cousin, 17 October 1960. DL 1959; Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire 1960-66. He married, 10 January 1924, Ursula Collingwood (d. 1989), daughter of Sir William Collingwood, KBE of Dedham Grove, Colchester, Essex, and had issue:(1) Rt. Hon. Sir John Campbell Arbuthnott (1924-2012), 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(2) Col. Hon. William David Arbuthnott MBE (b. 1927), born 5 November 1927; educated at Fettes College and Sandhurst; served in Black Watch (Colonel); MBE 1964; married, 30 April 1955, Sonja Mary, daughter of Col. Charles Newbigging Thomson CBE DSO TD and had issue one son and two daughters;(3) Hon. Hugh Sinclair Arbuthnott (b. 1929), born in Delhi (India), 14 November 1929; educated at Fettes College, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (BA 1952), and Edinburgh University (LLB 1953); Lt. with 4th/5th Battn, Black Watch; Executive with Shell International Petroleum Co., Barbados, 1950-83; married, 21 September 1963, Anne Rosamond MA DipEd (b. 1934), daughter of Charles Bentley Terdre of Worthing (Sussex) and had issue one son and one daughter;(4) Hon. Christian Keith (k/a Christy) Arbuthnott (b. 1933), born 1 October 1933; educated at St. Leonards and Edinburgh University (MA 1954); author of The Lairds of Arbuthnott, 1993; married, 13 November 1954, Commander Peter John Bing OBE RN (b. 1925), son of William Leslie Bing, and had issue three sons and one daughter.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his cousin in 1960.He died 15 December 1966. His widow died 20 December 1989.

16th Viscount of Arbuthnott

Arbuthnott, Sir John Campbell KT, CBE, DSC, KStJ, FRSE FRICS FRSA LLD JP (1924-2012), 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Eldest son of Robert Keith Arbuthnott (1897-1966), 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Ursula, daughter of Sir William Collingwood, kt., born at Dubton House near Montrose, 26 October 1924. Educated at Fettes College and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (BA 1949; MA 1967); Hon. LLD (Aberdeen Univ., 1995). Served in Fleet Air Arm, 1944-45 (DSC 1945); Lt. in Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Employed in Ministry of Agriculture, 1949-55; senior Land Agent for the Nature Conservancy in Scotland, 1955-67; Director of Aberdeen & Northern Marts, 1973-91 (Chairman, 1986-91), Scottish Widows 1978-94 (Chairman, 1984-87) and Clydesdale Bank, 1985-92; Lord Lieutenant of Grampian Region, 1977-99; Prior of the Order of St John in Scotland, 1983-95 (GSt.J); HM representative as Lord High Commissioner of Church of Scotland, 1986-87; appointed CBE 1986; Knight of the Thistle, 1996. He married, 3 September 1949, Mary Elizabeth Darley (1923-2010), daughter of Commander Christopher Bernard Oxley DSC RN, and had issue:(1) John Keith Oxley Arbuthnott (b. 1950), 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott (q.v.);(2) Hon. Susannah Mary Arbuthnott (b. 1954), born 1 May 1954; educated at Overstone School (Northants); married, 27 May 1978, Hugh Turnbull Bradbridge Smith (b. c.1952), younger son of Lewis Smith of Darnlee, Melrose (Roxburghs) and had issue one son and one daughter.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 1966.He died 14 July 2012, aged 87. His wife died 16 January 2010.Arbuthnott, John Keith Oxley (b. 1950), 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott. Only son of Rt. Hon. Sir John Campbell Arbuthnott (1924-2012), 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott, and his wife Mary Elizabeth Darnley, daughter of Cmdr. Christopher Bernard Oxley RN, born 18 July 1950. Educated at Fettes College and North Scotland College of Agriculture, Aberdeen (HND). DL for Kincardineshire, 2000. Member, Grampian Health Board, 1993-97; Vice-Convenor, Scottish Landowners Federation, 2002-05; Chairman, Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, 2005-08. He married, 19 January 1974, Jillian Mary (b. 1951), elder daughter of Capt. Colin Farquharson of Whitehouse, Alford (Aberdeens), and had issue:(1) Hon. Clare Anne Arbuthnott (b. 1974), born 24 June 1974; educated at Edinburgh University; married, 25 August 2001, Hugh Craigie-Halkett (b. 1968) and had issue two sons;(2) Hon. Christopher Keith Arbuthnott (b. 1977), Master of Arbuthnott, born 20 July 1977; educated at Durham University; vice-president, Barclays Wealth private banking, Aberdeen; married, 19 April 2003, Emily Jane (b. 1978), daughter of Robin Nicholas Lane Agg-Manning of Gittisham (Devon) and had issue one son and two daughters;(3) Hon. Rachel Sarah Arbuthnott (b. 1979), born 24 August 1979.He inherited the Arbuthnott estate from his father in 2012.Now living.

About Me

I was educated at St Paul's School in London and Keble College, Oxford and went on to train as an archivist in the world-famous Bodleian Library. I spent 37 years as a professional archivist, and was Chairman of the National Council on Archives from 2001 to 2005, and Head of Archives Sector Development and Secretary of the Historical Manuscripts Commission at the National Archives from 2005 until I retired in May 2015.

Alongside my professional career I have also been an architectural historian of the country house. This is a passion nurtured at Oxford, where I was President of the University Architectural Society. Between 1989 and 2001 my three volume study of The country houses of Gloucestershire was published, and my distinctive contribution has been to put together the evidence for the history of country houses and landed estates that can be gleaned from family archives and genealogy with the evidence from the buildings themselves, to tell a richer narrative than any of these sources alone can provide. I am now embarked on an ambitious blog (http://landedfamilies.blogspot.co.uk), which aims to tell the story of every landed family in the British Isles and their country houses. If I continue working hard until I am a centenarian I might finish the job!

Since one big project is never enough, I am also involved as a Trustee and volunteer with the Victoria County History of England, which aims to tell the story of every English village and town, and I do some advisory work for the National Trust, which looks after so many of the country houses I care passionately about.

I have been married for 37 years to my precious and special wife Mary, who mercifully tolerates my obsessions and collections, and even my cooking.